Expansible binder



.May 30; 1933.

H- G. BUCHAN EXPANSIBLE BINDER Filed June 18 1950 Hay/o G. Baafiam Patented May 30, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HUGH G. BUCHAN, OF PHILADELPHIA,PENNSYLVANIA EXPANSIBLCE BINDER Application filed June 18, 1920. Serial No. $1,930.

This invention relates to an expansible binder of that type having'relatively adjustable halves whereby the capacity thereof may be increased or decreased as desired.

In the past such types of binders usually employed telescopic posts and slotted leaves were necessary for engaging the posts This invention eliminates the telescopic posts and employs a construction whereby leaves with closed holes may be used. Another feature of inventlon resides in an automatic locking mechanism for adjustina the two halves or clamping members of the binder and is of such a character as to facilitate the closing of the binder.

The invention comprises the novel structure and combination of parts hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out and defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing which illusthe line 'IV-IV of Figure'l looking in the direction of the arrows. v

The invention has been illustrated inconnection with a well known binder, parts of which are illustrated in the drawing and which consists of the two rigid angular or which slidingly overlap so that the two halves or angular members of the binder may be adjusted toward or from each other. The usual covers 3 are hinged respectively to hinge'plates 4c and 5 secured to the inner walls of the angular members.

In order to guide the two parts of the binder intheir adjustment and to prevent the same from relative shifting movements in a longitudinal direction, a tubular mem- Figure 1 is an interior fragmentary plan.

clampingmembers 1 and 2, the bottoms of her 6 is secured to the member 1 adjacent each end of such member and a pair of guide rods 7 are secured to the wallv of the other member for telescopic relation with the tubular members 6. v

The aforementioned covers 3 are suspended from hinge rods 8 confined in cylindrical bearing lugs upon the tops of the hinge plates 4 and 5. According to this invention a post plate 9 is hinged upon one of the hinge, rods 8 andsupports a plurality of impaling posts 10 upon which loose sheets may be impaled when the plate 9 is swung upwardly to bring its plane into alinement with the plane of the adjacent cover. In connection with this operation, it might be mentioned that the plate 9 is so hinged as to provide sufficient. friction tonormally retain. the plate 9 in any position to which it may be adjusted. v Upon the other hinge plate which in the present instance is the one designated as 4, there is a removable post plate 11 having a plurality of posts 12 thereon, the points of which are adapted to enter apertures 13 in 7 the plate 9 when the binder posts are not in expanded relation. The post plate 11 is provided with apertures .14 for receiving the points of the posts 10 when the binder is not expanded} The plate '11normally rests upon the guide posts 6 and it is provided with struck-out lugs 15 that engage under the hinge upon the binder part 1 in order to properly position the same and prevent the same from upward movement. It might be here mentioned that this second post plate ll'is necessary to hold a portion of g the leaves when the binder is expanded as shown in Figure 1.

position will now be set'forth. Upon the angle member 1 there is secured a ratchet bar 16 having teeth 17 which slope toward the member 1. This ratchet bar is provided 95 20, one of which extends thrugthe slot 18 111- The mechanism for automatically locking the binder in its expanded or adjusted the ratchet bar; the housing 19 having a slot for receiving the ratchet bar as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

It will be noted that the housing 19 extends substantially the length of the binder. Its purpose is mainly to house a latch bar 21 havinga thumb piece'22 pi'ojeetingtlierebeyond whereby the same may be operated.

of this slot serves asa detentQttor engaging the ratchet bar 16. The latch bar-.21;

is provided with an abutment 25 (Figure 3) and a compression spring26 is positioned between the abutment and anadjacent rivet 20 and is effective for normally main;

taining the latch. bar 21 in engagementlwith the ratchet bar 16.,

'Whenit is desired to expand the binder, the latch bar 21 is pushed inwardly to dis engage the ratchet barf16' when the binder parts may'bemoved apart. When it'is desir'ed'to close orcontractthe binder, the two parts are merely-pushedtpgether; the de-i tent 24 readily-riding over theratchet teeth duringsuch movements; and the rivet 20 in the 'ratchet barpassing freely :in slot 18 thereof.

hen it is desired to impale additional leaves or add new leaves, the'binder will first belopened as previously explained by pushingin the latch bar and separating the parts. The plate 9 'will then beswung up as thesh'eets areswungover "upon the cover adjacent the plate 9, The, posts, '10 will then occupy a verticalposition. In doing this; the platel l will-of course be readily disengaged from thememberal and willb'e positioned upon the top of the'sheets. g The plate 11 may then be removed from the sheets and additional sheets impaledilpon the posts l0. Afterthese additional sheets'have been impaled upon the posts 10, the plate 11 may then be placed upon the sheets, the,po sts 12 thereof entering. suitable'apertures provided therefor in the sheets. .Thejjsheets. clamped.

between the tw o plates maythen be swung down into proper 'positionin the binder and the loose plate 11, adjusted .to bring the I lugs 15 under its hinge rod and the two parts of the binder may then be pushed together until the, sheets are firmly clamped between the 'two parts.

From the foregoing it will, be apparent that anovel-and.handyiormot binderhaswbeen disclosed inwhich the leaves donot re- (ling means upon sald second plate and the quire open slots or holes .as heretofore, andsheets canbe more easily made and numerous details of construction maybevaried through a wide range Without departingfrom the principles of this invention, and I,"=therefore; do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a loose leaf binder, a pair of angular clamping members, a transversely extending ratchet bar upon one member, a longitudinally iexte11ding housing lllPOIl the other member, havingslots through which said This latch bar has a slot 23 thru whichthe" ratchet bar 16 passesand the; forward wall ratchetbar passes, a latch bar within said housingfor engagingsaidratchet bar and extending beyond one end of said binder,

iandayielding means: acting upon said latch ing members, a transverserratchet bar upon one member, a longitudinally]extending housing upon the other member having a slot for receiving said ratchet bar and a latch bar slid'ably mounted insaid housing for engaging said ratchet bar, said latch bar extending through one end of said housing. and having a linger piece thereon.

3. In a loose-leaf binder having angular [back members, said members each having a hinge portion at its outer edge, means for expansibly connectingsaid members, a post with posts thereon engageable' with the hinge portion of the other member, said secholding plate hingedto one member, posts upon said plate, and a post holding plate end plate being detachable to allowsaid first plate with. sheets impaled thereon to swing to horizontaliposition with said second plate i 1;

superposed upon said sheets.

4. In a loose leaf binder having expansible back members, a post holding plat-e'hinged.

to one member, posts thereon adapted for-3" retaining loose sheets,.asecond postholding plate, and, cooperating means .u on said second plate and the other back member for" fjc'letachably'engaging said-second plate and other member, said-.secondplate being detachableand swingable with saidsheets'tq horizontalposition in superposed relation when s' hlmembers are separated.

.7 5. In a loose leaf binder, a pair of angular back members, means forfadjusting the same toward and from each other, telescopic -guide posts upon said members for guiding ,the same during their adjustable movements, "a post'platejjhinged to one member, posts "upon said plate adapted for'retaining loose sheets, a second" plate with'jposts thereon resting 'upon said guide posts and cooperat otherback member for 'detachably engaging said second plate with said other member 'whereby said second plate may bedetached outer edges, means for adjusting saidihenisaid members are separated from each other.

6. In a loose leafbinder, a pair of angular back members. having hingeportions at their hers toward and from each other, telescopic guide posts upon the ends of said members for guiding the same during their adjustments, a post plate hinged to one member, posts thereon for receiving loose sheets, a plate with posts thereon resting upon said guide posts and having means detachabl engaging the hinge portion of the other bac member for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name at Philadelphia, Philadelphia county, Penns lvania.

GH G. BUCHAN. 

